wüsste

"Wüsste" is the Konjunktiv I (subjunctive I) form of the German verb "wissen," meaning "to know." It is typically used in indirect speech to report what someone else said or thought, without necessarily confirming its truth. For example, "Er sagte, er wüsste die Antwort" translates to "He said he knew the answer." The Konjunktiv I is also employed in certain polite requests or wishes, although "würde" is more common for the latter in modern German.

The Konjunktiv I is formed by taking the verb stem and adding specific endings. For "wissen," the stem is "wiss-". The Konjunktiv I form for the first and third person singular is "wüsste." For example, "Ich wüsste" (I would know) and "Er/sie/es wüsste" (He/she/it would know).

In contemporary German, the Konjunktiv II, which uses "würde" plus the infinitive, has largely replaced the Konjunktiv I in many contexts, especially for hypothetical statements and polite requests. However, the Konjunktiv I, including "wüsste," remains standard for reporting statements in indirect speech, particularly in formal writing and journalism. Understanding "wüsste" is crucial for comprehending indirect discourse in German and for accurate reporting of conveyed information.